At this question, Jane-Ellen, who was standing beside the chest, gave the lid a slight downward impulsion, so that it suddenly closed with a loud, heavy report, within half an inch of Mrs. Falkener's nose.
That lady turned to Burton.
"Burton," she said, with the majesty of which she was at times capable, "I leave it to you to decide whether or not this impossible young woman did that on purpose," and so saying she swept away up the stairs, like a goddess reascending Olympus.
"Look here, Jane-Ellen," said Crane, "I don't stand for that."
"Oh, sir," replied the culprit, with a return to an earlier manner, "you surely don't think I had anything to do with it?"
"Unhappily, I was watching your hand at the time, and I know that you had."
Jane-Ellen completely changed her method.
"Oh, well," she said, "you did not want her going on any more about the old salad, did you?"
"I don't want the end of my guest's nose taken off."
"It's rather a long nose," said the cook dispassionately.